St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-30

River" ranks next TO ''Home, Sweet Home, I"
in it's hold on the affections OF the human
heart, and has probably drawn more tears
from the eyes OF homesick people than any
melody that was ever composed.
-
The Suanee river is a murky, offee-colored
stream which rises in Southern Georgia, and
its slow current winds its way through dark
pine woods and low palmetto thIckets, until,
having crossed the upper part of Florida. the
river finds an outlet into the Gulf of Mexico
just above Cedar Keys. 1t is the home of the
alligator and the black turtle, and one is puz-
Zled to know why river with such unpoetic
surroundings should have been the Inspira-
ton OF a song of such tender sentiment and
touching melody.
~
1t is popularity supposed that the song was
composed by GEORGE CHRISTIE. the old time
minstrel. 1t was first sung by him in his
minstrel performances thirty years ago, and
appears in CHRISTIE'S book of minstrel
songs. CHRISTIE was in bad health and went
down to Southern Georgia to spend the win
ter. While stopping ut plantation on the
banks OF the Suanee, it was supposed that
the dreary surroundings made him home
sick. Hence the famous song.
%a*
The Augusta Chronicle has recently given
an entirely different version of the author
ship of 1.-The Old Folks at Home" According
to the Chronicle, q woman was the writer long
before CHRISTIE'S time In the time of
LOUIS XIV. Il French family came over and
settled upon the Suanee and made planta-
ton. After awhile the father aud mother
and all died, save one daughter, who, disheart-
ened and desolate returned to France, and
there wrote, adopting in part that negro dia-
lect, which she had been familiar with on the
plantation in her glrlhood, a feeling tribute
to the old folks in their graves in the far-off
country.
While Western capitalists are busy planting
their surplus dollars in real estate, the New
York millionaires are sailing their shekels
down in pictures aud ceramics. Just think
of Judge HILTON investing 100000 in little
piece of painted canvass to hang up on his
library wall, while there are so In any corner
lots out this way big enough to bury 100000 of
MEssONNIER's best pictures.
-
This is a fair illustration of the difference
between Eastern and Western ideas. The
skeptical Eastern man wants his money where
ne can keep an eye on it all the time. The
contiding Western capitalist plants his and
then leaves everything to Providence and a
"boom" for return.
~
Prof. MCGEE, of the geological bureau.
says earthquakes can be predicted with the
certainty of the morrow's sum- If that is
true the professor can make money by join
ing some real estate syndicate. The official
prediction of coming earthquake would
have tendency to depreciate real estate
! values in any town.
AZ
''How do you folks live here, anyway
inquired Minneapolis real estate dealer of
boy who stood at the depot as the former
alighted from the train that drew up at Ash
land the other day. ''At the present time we
are principally living on dried blue berries
and strangers was the quick retort of the
North Wisconsin urchin.
-
Senator SHERMAN says that the Labor party
is Snide side show which doesn't deserve
patronage. At the same time if SHERMAN
should be so unfortunate as to get the Repub.
Icon nomination for president. his first effort
will be to try to put this side show on exhibit
ton in the big circus tent.
~
Or. MCGLYNN mas accepted an invitation tC
address the workingmen of Cincinnati on the
18th Of next month. He will visit that city
under the auspices Of the HENRY GEORGE
club, and expects to give helping hand tc
the Labor party in the municipal election.
~
A London doctor, alarmed at the increasing
stoutness of Queen VICTORIA, has written
the good old lady letter, telling her that il
she wants to live TO celebrate her jubilee she
will have to quit carriage riding and swing
Indian clubs for the next six months. The
queen is perfectly willing to follow the doc
tors advice, but is afraid that if she goes
into the club swinging business she will be
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